SWEDISH TRAINING-FOR-THE-UNEMPLOYED INCENTIVE PLAN CLEARED.

Two initiatives planned by the Swedish Government to boost vocational training and employment, by providing incentives for companies to recruit the long-term unemployed, have been cleared by the European Commission from EU rules on anti-competitive state aid.

The first measure allows companies to receive support of up to 50% of the gross salary of every long-term unemployed person they recruit over a period of 6 months. Companies have an obligation to provide training to these new employees...